The Paly Voice

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Shoppers rush toward the exits at Westfield Valley Fair on Black Friday after police responded to a shooting that wounded three people and sent the mall into lockdown and evacuation. According to sophomore Maya Rajgopal, the experience changed how safe she feels in public spaces. “That one day made me realize anything can happen at any time to make you feel unsafe,” she said.

Students rethink safety after Valley Fair shooting

Julia Nunes, Reporter • December 3, 2025

Shoppers rushed toward the exits at Westfield Valley Fair on Black Friday after police responded to reports of a shooting inside the mall, prompting...

The Palo Alto Unified School District board reviews new parcel tax renewal polling data at a school board meeting on Nov. 4. School Board member Allison Kamhi said she could foresee a shortened renewal timeline --- a period less than the current 7-year cycle --- if property and enrollment trends dramatically change.

“What I was finding interesting about it [the parcel tax] was this idea of putting it back before voters, if indeed, we find ourselves in a situation with drastically increasing property taxes and drastically decreasing enrollment,” Kamhi said. “But I am not convinced that we need that, given the polling and given the clear consensus that this is the right thing to do.”

PAUSD considers renewal of $16.5 million parcel tax

Priya Tamura and Mayu Altekar-Okazaki • November 18, 2025

The Palo Alto Unified School District School Board members are directing staff to draft a possible renewal of the district’s parcel tax, which...

“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Palo Alto High School senior and first-time voter Xander Yap said, as he placed his ballot in a drop box on Election Day, marking a milestone in his civic engagement.

Students weigh stakes, readiness as they approach the ballot

Arjun Jindal, Reporter/Photographer • November 6, 2025

As key issues like redistricting and a proposed sales tax shape this fall’s ballot, Palo Alto High School seniors are stepping into civic life,...

Palo Alto High School alumnus Tess Manjarrez speaks to the crowd last Tuesday at The Palo Alto Art Center during the Youth Mental Health & Allcove Community Meeting as Santa Clara County District supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga looks on from the front row. Manjarrez said Allcove plays a critical role in supporting students with mental health needs in the community. “I don’t think there was anyone at Paly or Gunn that was more than 2 degrees separated from someone who took their own life,” Manjarrez said. “It’s part of the culture. It twists you.”

County budget crisis threatens youth mental health center allcove

Joyce Ma and Priya Tamura • November 4, 2025

Community members gathered to brainstorm how allcove can remain as an accessible youth mental health resource last Tuesday evening at the Palo...

A protester in a chicken suit wearing a taco hat with the words “Cluck Trump” at the “No Kings” Democracy Fair in Palo Alto on Saturday. Protestor Mary Chan said she and her husband are horrified at the state of science and medicine in America. “What he [Trump] is doing by defunding scientific research is destroying our academic medical centers, and he’s [Trump] bankrupting rural medical centers,” Chan said. “We will have lasting negative impacts on American health for decades.”

‘No Kings’ Democracy Fair brings community together

Joyce Ma and Jeshurun Wang • October 20, 2025

Organizers of the “No Kings” protest and Democracy Fair in Palo Alto over the weekend say they are pleased with the thousands of people who...

Palo Alto High School's senior class prepares to run onto the Earl Hansen Viking Stadium field to perform their class dance. Senior Juli Spreckelmeyer said performing with her class for the final time was both fun and meaningful. “It was really fun,” Spreckelmeyer said. “I think doing the class dance with everyone was such a great time because it's a time where you really connect as a class after four years of going to school together. I'm really excited to do the dance again tonight at the game.”

Spirit Week ends with energetic class dances

Mayu Altekar-Okazaki and Julia Nunes • October 17, 2025

With childhood film-inspired class dances, Palo Alto High School wrapped up its final rally of the year this afternoon on the Earl...

Freshman putting final touches on their "Scooby Doo" themed float. Palo Alto students wrap up the Spirit Week activities with float building. According to Raj, the hardest part of the float building process was deciding on a specific design and coming to a solution. “One of the hardest processes we (Associated Student Body) had when we were planning was that we couldn't really decide on a float design, which caused a lot of chaos,” Raj said. “But we all made compromises, and we all worked together really well.”

Students wrap up spirit week with float building

Kevin O'Brien and Alex Rytokoski • October 17, 2025

Students from all classes at Palo Alto High School are working diligently on building floats that will be presented today, the end of Spirit...

Junior winners Zoe Quinlan and Elif Dogan bask in Spirit Week glory after winning the last 'best-dressed' contest today during brunch on the Quad at Palo Alto High School. According to Quinlan, she is glad the junior class won. "I feel amazing about the win and we're doing great," Quinlan said.

Juniors victorious in last ‘best-dressed’ competition

Navya Narayanan and Julia Curtis • October 17, 2025

Juniors won the competition during brunch today on the Quad at Palo Alto High School during Spirit Week’s last best-dressed contest, with...

Opinion

Verbatim: Students respond to Musk’s proposal for Tesla Diner in Palo Alto

Amily Zhang and Alexander Lawson • November 17, 2025

A new Tesla Diner location could be coming to Palo Alto, according to a recent post on X from Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO. Musk wrote on Oct. 31...

Taylor Swift's newly released album, "The Life of a Showgirl," comes with glamorous merch, like this sparkly box containing the album's CD and more. Fans like Fione O'Neill especially enjoy Swift's collaboration with popular artist Sabrina Carpenter. "My favorite song is probably the title track with Sabrina Carpenter because their vocals sounded so good together. I especially like the upbeat chorus," O'Neill said.

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ reviewed: predictable performance from Taylor Swift

Julia Curtis and Julia Nunes • October 16, 2025

After promoting kaleidoscope-inspired previews of glamorous and bedazzled performers, Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated 12th studio...

Culture

Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) quarrel after Glinda gives Nessa's ruby slippers to Dorothy, sparking Elphaba's furious reaction in "Wicked: For Good."

Does ‘Wicked: For Good’ change audiences for the better?

Cailey Quita and Julia Curtis • December 2, 2025

After a year of anticipation following the cliffhanger ending of the first "Wicked" film, "Wicked: For Good" finally premiered in theaters over...

Palo Alto High School's color-coordinated a capella group, The Heartbeats, performs a rendition of a medley from the iconic movie series, Pitch Perfect. They, with three other Paly groups, worked with the movie's arranger — Deke Sharon, on Thursday. Heartbeats senior Simone Batra thought the experience helped her grow musically. "When we worked with Deke, he taught us how to blend so many different aspects of music into one," Batra said.

Pitch Perfect at Paly: Deke Sharon a cappella masterclass

Julia Curtis, Reporter • October 13, 2025

Stage lights blinding, microphone in hand, anxiously trying to remember the choreography, we sang each chord as precisely as possible to impress...

Customers are served hot pot in Tasty Pot's modern, spacious interior. According to Manager Suang, the efficiency in their kitchen makes it good choice for people who come in and have a limited time to eat. “Some people are at school, or at work, and they come over during lunchtime; they only have a limited time, and we can make it very fast for them," Suang said.

Review: Tasty Pot spices up the block

Naomi Espinoza and Lise Concolato • September 22, 2025

Featuring steaming soup, spicy kimchi and fried tempura, Tasty Pot, a new Taiwanese restaurant, brings specialty hot pot to downtown Palo Alto,...

This is the view students see as they step out of their high school classes at Foothill College, where Palo Alto Middle College High School is based. The campus offers a peaceful setting that contrasts with the pace of traditional high school. According to Lily-Rose Cheung, PAMC sophomore, her school's flexibility is one of its biggest draws. “I love that I can pick afternoon high‑school classes because I’m not a morning person, and choose all‑online college courses when I’m traveling,” Cheung said.

Students reflect on transition to new campus

Lise Concolato and Mayu Altekar-Okazaki • May 15, 2025

At Palo Alto Middle College High School, located on the Foothill College campus, students blend high school classes with college coursework,...